One Person Dead After Thursday Morning Accident in Jefferson County

A vehicle crash north of Woodlawn in northwestern Jefferson County has left one person dead. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department reports the crash happened 3/10's of a mile south of East Vasser Road on North Woodlawn Lane. 46-year-old Rebecca Lynn Tufts of Woodlawn was traveling southbound on North Woodlawn Lane in her Jeep, when she went off the roadway down a steep embankment, struck the bottom of the embankment, and overturned with the vehicle resting on its' top. Tufts was pronounced dead at the scene from blunt force trauma injuries by Jefferson County Coroner Eddie Joe Marks. The crash is still under investigation by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and the Jefferson County Coroner's office. Woodlawn Fire, Litton Ambulance Service, and Jefferson County Deputies responded to the scene. The accident occurred at 10:12 Thursday morning.  http://goo.gl/WfuhV

Man pleads guilty to killing homeless man

BELLEVILLE (AP) - A homeless man charged with murdering and dismembering another homeless East St. Louis man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Dennis Iagulli pleaded guilty Wednesday in St. Clair County Circuit Court to first-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Zachary Irvin.

Prosecutors alleged Iagulli and a second man, James Pierson, killed
Irvin in June 2010 in an abandoned freight warehouse near East St.
Louis' riverfront. Irvin's dismembered body was later found smoldering nearby.

Prosecutors say Iagulli and Pierson killed Irvin because they believed
he had attacked another homeless man.

During a hearing before Judge John Baricevic, the 42-year-old Iagulli
answered questions about his involvement in the murder and waived his
right to appeal his plea.

Pierson is scheduled for trial in February. - http://goo.gl/sRm2h

Carlyle Man Facing Criminal Charges for Wrestling Gun Away from Police Officer

A 25-year-old Carlyle man who allegedly wrestled a gun away from a Clinton County Correctional Officer and discharged it twice in the emergency room at St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese last November now faces criminal charges in connection with the incident. Dennis Parker has been charged with aggravated battery, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. Parker is accused of aggravated battery for striking Correctional Officer Kenneth McElroy when trying to disarm him. The aggravated discharge count accuses Parker of firing the gun at McElroy and Correctional Officer Miranda Waggoner. Parker was in custody on a parole hold and a warrant for failure to show up in the Clinton County Jail to serve time on a traffic conviction when he was taken to the hospital for treatment of a head injury. No one was injured in the incident and the officer eventually regained control of his gun. He has since been sent back to the Illinois Department of Corrections for the parole violation. - http://goo.gl/4YjwA

Centralia Man Charged With Stalking and Aggravated Battery

A 22-year-old Centralia man has been charged with stalking and aggravated battery in connection with actions taken against an employee of the Salem Wal-Mart store. Bond for Clint Nix of South Lackey was set at $50,000. He's accused in the aggravated battery charge of putting his arms around the woman and placing his hand on her chest in an insulting or provoking manner. The stalking charge accuses Nix of following the woman around Wal-mart and to her car, making inappropriate sexual comments, hugging and attempting to pull down her shirt. He's also accused of placing the woman under surveillance by stationing himself at Wal-mart in a manner just to watch her work. Nix had the public defender appointed to represent him. A preliminary hearing was set for January 31st. The charges indicate the activity occurred on January 7th. Nix was taken into custody at his home after the alleged victim filed a complaint with police. - http://goo.gl/ARf8s

Bond Sales Equals Jobs For Illinois

Chicago, IL -- The State of Illinois has successfully sold General Obligation Bonds for the "Illinois Jobs Now!" capital program. The sale included 525-million dollars worth of tax exempt General Obligation Bonds with an interest rate of about three-point-nine-percent. That's the lowest rate the state has received on a tax-exempt capital bond issuance in recent history. An additional 275-million dollars of taxable General Obligation Bonds had an interest rate of five-point-two-nine-percent. The bond sale provides funding to help revive Illinois' ailing economy by creating and retaining more than 439-thousand jobs. Now that the deal is complete, the state can continue work on several important construction projects across Illinois. - http://goo.gl/sMmfB

Probation officer accused of helping fugitive

EDWARDSVILLE (AP) - A probation officer in southwestern Illinois is
accused of helping a fugitive by harboring him and even washing the clothes he wore during an assault he's accused of committing.

Madison County prosecutors charged 52-year-old Mary Little of Alton on Wednesday with obstructing justice and aiding a fugitive.

The county's top prosecutor has asked the state's appellate prosecutor's office to take the case because of Little's work as a county probation
officer.

Little is accused of helping one of two brothers who were neighbors of hers. The brothers are charged with aggravated battery and unlawful restraint in connection with an attack last month on an Alton man.

Little remained jailed Thursday in Edwardsville on $50,000 bond.

She couldn't be reached for comment. Court records don't show whether she has an attorney. - http://goo.gl/inqES